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Monday, 30 May 2011

This is because I've been doing research and getting ready for our gearbox investigation / swap exercise which will be coming soon and hopefully with loads of pictures

There have been some minor bits of work going on however

In the electrics I've found a replacement for the faulty switch that was preventing the instrument cluster lights from coming on. When I took the old one out it was held in with something that looked like a blue foam type gap filling adhesive and clearly broken. Mind you now I think the instrument lighting is rubbish so I need to look into how to take the binnacle apart and check all the bulbs are OK

In the rust reduction/prevention exercise I am currently working on cleaning all of the underside with a wire brush and getting ready to coat it with some form of rust prevention. I haven't decided what this will be yet as I'm undecided between the various modern complex systems or the old fashioned old engine oil and diesel as recommended by the father-in-law. Doing it by hand may seem a strange way to do it, but it is giving me an opportunity to inspect every last inch in some detail and doesn't have the risk of spraying water up somewhere it should not be. The amount of Saharan sand I'm getting out means I need to think about a bucket and spade to play with

I've also been oiling every nut, bolt and screw I can see under there with WD-40 and 3-in-1 in order to hopefully make the next stages of refurbishment a little easier. I've been recommended Freeze and Release for the ones that won't move and I've just bought some of Halford's equivalent to give it a go

Saturday, 7 May 2011

Having taken Katy up to see Steve Walford, and him agreeing all was not well with the gearbox I admit to getting some over confidence.

On the way back from that trip she actually drive well so today after sorting out a fuel pipe and pump problem ( just tighten up a loose Jubilee clip and a loose electrical connection I decided to head off to find one of the local Land Rover specialists that have been recommended to me

This was also a test drive to decide whether to take Katy to the Pencoed Classic Car Show where we are booked in tomorrow which would be a bit more serious with a 36 mile motorway trip

I really wish I hadn't as I nearly didn't get home

I am even more convinced now that she has a gearbox problem. The inability to get into 4th gear even when standing and having de-cluched into neutral is probably a big clue. Not being able to get in to 2nd most of the time and the rattling and grinding in 1st and 3rd is all leading me to believe that there is a serious transmission problem